erode

/ɪˈrəʊd/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈrəʊd/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈrōd/ (ame, mw)

erode — verb

  • erodepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • erodeshe / she / it
  • erodedpast simple
  • eroding-ing form

1. to break down the surface of land or rock bit by bit. Rain, rivers, wind, and mo

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to break down the surface of land or rock bit by bit. Rain, rivers, wind, and moving ice all cause this kind of slow wearing away.

例句

The river eroded the soft riverbank, making the field above it smaller each spring.

transitive: river + eroded + land feature

Strong waves eroded the cliff face, sending large chunks of rock into the sea.

同義詞
  • wear away

    more general; covers any gradual removal, not only by natural forces

  • corrode

    specifically for chemical damage to metal or similar materials

  • weather

    focuses on exposure to sun, wind, and rain over time

  • abrade

    technical term for wearing down by friction or rubbing

反義詞
  • build up

    to add material to a surface rather than remove it

  • deposit

    to leave sediment behind; the opposite process in geology

文法句型

erode + surface/landform noun

be eroded by + wind/water/ice

用法筆記

Can be used without an object: 'The coastline eroded over thousands of years.'

常見錯誤

❌The metal gate eroded in the rain.
✅The metal gate corroded in the rain.
💡'erode' describes surfaces worn away by natural forces like wind and water; 'corrode' is for chemical damage, especially to metal.

2. to weaken or reduce something such as trust, support, or value slowly, piece by

2.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to weaken or reduce something such as trust, support, or value slowly, piece by piece, until much of it is gone.

例句

Repeated broken promises eroded the public's trust in the new housing plan.

erode + trust: abstract object of gradual loss

The scandal slowly eroded the company's good name among its oldest customers.

同義詞
  • undermine

    suggests weakening something by attacking its foundations or basis

  • diminish

    a more general word for making something smaller or less important

  • weaken

    less specific about the slow, gradual nature of the change

  • chip away at

    informal; suggests repeated small actions that add up to a large effect

反義詞
  • strengthen

    to make something stronger or more secure

  • bolster

    to add support or reinforcement to something that is weakening

  • reinforce

    to make an idea, feeling, or structure stronger again

文法句型

erode + abstract noun (trust, confidence, support, authority, value)

用法筆記

Object is almost always abstract: confidence, trust, authority, support, value, or morale. The process described is always gradual.

常見錯誤

❌One mistake eroded his reputation.
✅Years of mistakes gradually eroded his reputation.
💡'erode' always describes a slow, gradual process. Using it for a single, sudden event sounds unnatural.